Spring colors in the border region of Vang Ma Chai

Near the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, we had the opportunity to join the Youth Union of the Agencies of Thai Nguyen province and the Youth Union of Agribank - Thai Nguyen Branch to go to the mountainous border commune of Vang Ma Chai (Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province) to present Tet gifts and youth projects to the poor people here. With the hope that the warm feelings of Thai Nguyen youth will contribute to bringing the people a more beautiful and prosperous Spring...

Before departure, Ms. Duong Thi Giang, Secretary of the Youth Union of the block, advised: "The journey from Thai Nguyen City to the mountainous commune of Vang Ma Chai is nearly 500km long, mostly winding steep passes. Remember to prepare your health and bring warm clothes, because the cold in the highlands is very fierce", making everyone both anxious and eager to experience the cold of the foggy land.

At the Muong So intersection, we turned onto Provincial Road 132, going up the road to the border. The further we went, the narrower the road became, and the steeper the slope. On both sides of the road, patches of wild sunflowers were in full bloom. From the foot to the top of the mountain, wild sunflowers covered the mountains and forests in a brilliant yellow color, appearing and disappearing behind the thick, floating clouds...

After a whole day of traveling nearly 500km from Thai Nguyen city, in the cold winter weather, we arrived at the border commune of Vang Ma Chai, one of the most difficult communes in Lai Chau province. This place is likened to a peninsula that stands tall to withstand all the harshness of the weather, as well as the difficulties of the terrain.

While there is little agricultural land, this place has to endure many natural disasters and floods every year. The most memorable was the terrible flood that occurred in 2018, causing many families to suffer loss of life and property.

Vice Chairman of Vang Ma Chai Commune People's Committee, Mr. Cheo Lao U, said: Over the years, the commune has always received investment attention from the Party and the State through programs 30a and 135 to help people change their lives. The commune has reviewed poor households to support capital, seeds, animals and agricultural materials; proactively propagandized people to change farming methods, focusing more on intensive investment. Many households have proactively changed the structure of crops, livestock, and trade to escape poverty and become rich. In 2023, the total food output of the commune reached 1,460 tons; the growth rate of livestock reached 4.5%. Culture and society continue to receive attention, people's lives are increasingly improved.

Ms. Cheo U May, Si Choang village, Vang Ma Chai commune, said: Taking advantage of the house in the commune center, my family has switched from growing rice and corn to raising pigs and trading, earning nearly 150 million VND each year. Escaping poverty, my husband and I have the conditions to build a new, solid and spacious house; our children can go to school more fully.

These days, the spring atmosphere in Hoang Then village, located near the border, is even more brilliant. Wild peach trees are blooming on both sides of the road leading to the households. Along with that, the national flag is present on every house, making anyone who comes here clearly feel the new vitality of this place.

Village chief Hoang Then Giang A Po told us: The village has 80 households, 395 people, 100% of whom are Ha Nhi ethnic people. Of which, 51 households are poor, 18 are near-poor. The villagers comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; do not illegally cross the border or trade in drugs; unite to participate in economic development, actively help each other escape poverty sustainably, improve their lives, and practice a civilized lifestyle in weddings and funerals according to conventions and village covenants. The great solidarity in the village is increasingly tightened. The villagers also actively cooperate with the forces to maintain security and order, firmly protecting the Fatherland's fence.

While the mist was still covering the mountains and forests of the border region, the villagers in Vang Ma Chai gathered at the commune People's Committee headquarters to join the volunteer group, border guards, officials, and local organizations in celebrating the New Year of Giap Thin. Early in the morning in the border region, the joyful atmosphere of Spring and Tet spread throughout the streets.

We met Cheo Lan (Group I village) right at the entrance to the Vang Ma Chai Commune People's Committee headquarters. Cheo Lan said that her family was notified by the commune to come and receive Tet gifts from the Thai Nguyen delegation for poor households. I asked her if she knew where Thai Nguyen was? - Lan smiled shyly: "I heard it's very far away, from the lowlands". I asked, "Do you have new clothes for Tet yet?" - She smiled shyly again: "We don't have money to buy them".

Waiting for her to receive the Tet gift, I joked: "Open it and see what's inside?". Cheo Lan shook her head, hugging the big gift bag tightly, her face beaming: "I'm so happy, thank you so much."

Like Cheo Lan, Mr. Tan Chin Pao was present at the Commune People's Committee very early to receive Tet gifts and participate in the program "Spring Border Guard - Warm Military-Civilian Love" in 2024, organized by the Youth Union of Thai Nguyen Provincial Government Agencies in coordination with the Youth Union of Lai Chau Provincial Government Agencies and Enterprises, the Youth Union of Agribank Thai Nguyen and the Youth Union of Lai Chau Provincial Border Guard. Mr. Tan Chin Pao happily said: Thank you very much, young people, thank you very much, soldiers. So this Tet, my whole family will have warm blankets to cover themselves with, and delicious cakes and candies to welcome guests!

According to Ms. Duong Thi Giang, the program "Spring Border Guard - Warming Military-Civilian Love" in 2024 took place with many meaningful activities, such as: Inauguration of 2 youth power projects "Lighting up the Border" in Hoang Then village and "Multi-purpose House" at Vang Ma Chai Border Guard Station. Giving 30 gifts (each worth 500,000 VND) including blankets and necessities for Tet to poor households; 10 scholarships for poor students who overcome difficulties; giving 200 warm clothes to children; giving Tet gifts and cultural and sports exchanges with officers and soldiers of Vang Ma Chai Border Guard Station... with a total cost of more than 100 million VND.

Coming to the border commune of Vang Ma Chai for the first time, the members and youth of Agribank Thai Nguyen were all very happy and deeply sympathized with the difficulties that the border guards and people here had to overcome.

The bright smiles on the faces of the people in Vang Ma Chai when receiving the gifts were also the happiness that each member of our delegation received during this trip. Each gift was the affection and sharing, the sense of compatriotism of the Thai Nguyen youth with the remote border commune of the Fatherland. While the whole country is bustling to prepare for the New Year, in the border commune of Vang Ma Chai, the Party Committee, government, armed forces and people of all ethnic groups here are also making efforts to build and develop the economy, creating a Spring of prosperity and happiness.

The late winter weather in the highlands is still harsh, but the flowers still bloom and show their bright colors; joy and excitement are evident on the faces of the people, laughter and talking in every house seem to promise good things in the future...